Apple has discovered 74 underage workers at one of its suppliers in China as part of a latest round of audits, resulting in the iPhone maker ending its relationship with the company.

Apple has discovered 74 underage workers at one of its suppliers in China as part of a latest round of audits, resulting in the iPhone maker ending its relationship with the company.

Guangdong Real Faith Pingzhou Electronics, others known as PZ, was reported to be employing the children, all under the age of 16, to make circuit board components for top technology firms like Apple. These staff have since been sent home.

Allegedly recruitment firm Shenzhen Quanshun Human Resources provided fake identity papers for the underage staff and has now had its business license revoked by the regional government.

Jeff Williams, SVP of Operations at Apple, told Reuters that the company hopes to eradicate child labour from the technology industry altogether, adding that Apple is going deep into the supply chain to find it.

The findings are the result of 393 audits Apple has conducted lately on its suppliers, with the aim of discovering any unacceptable working conditions. iPhone and iPad manufacturer Foxconn, known for its high volume of employee suicides, admitted hiring underage staff in October of last year.